Bryn Mawr, ranked fourth in ILWomen’s Preseason High School Rankings, and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, ranked fifth, met in a key interstate matchup on Saturday afternoon. A dreary and misty afternoon followed by heavy rain that persisted through most of the second half didn’t prevent a thrilling game that came down to the wire, as SSSA led 12-9 with 5:45 remaining in the game only to see Bryn Mawr come roaring back for a 14-13 victory as time expired.

All stats are unofficial, as I was keeping track of the game on my own.

What Happened

A closely contested game throughout the first half, the teams were knotted at two before a Georgia Carroll free position goal put Bryn Mawr up 3-2. Michele Phillips’s goal off a dodge from the top of the eight knotted it at three and Carly Reed and Margaret Tucker Fogarty each scored to give SSSA a 5-3 lead midway through the half. With the Saints controlling possession and the pace of the game, Bryn Mawr coach Wendy Kridel called a timeout when the team trailed 6-3.

The team responded, as junior midfielder Kate Snouffer scored on a great split dodge with a lefty finish and junior Ellie Knott scored off a roll dodge to bring the Mawrtians within a goal. Fogarty would score on a great free position shot to the top right corner before the half ended to give the Saints a 7-5 lead heading into the intermission.

With a boost from Carly Reed, SSSA built up a 12-8 lead with just under six minutes remaining. A great give-and-go play with Snouffer and Caroline Turco, who finished the game with at least three goals, resulted in another score for the Mawrtians and was the beginning of an impressive comeback. Snouffer assisted on the next goal as well, drawing the attention of the defense with a dodge and finding senior Kassandra Bowling inside to make it 12-10. Besser Dyson fed Carly Reed in front of the crease for the Saints’ 13th goal of the day. It would also be their last. Turco and Bowling converted on free position opportunities and with 1:44 remaining, Snouffer took the ball on the near side wing, almost near the sideline and ran it in all the way, dodging through traffic on the eight and finishing with a sidearm shot just under the crossbar.

On the ensuing draw, SSSA sophomore attacker Katherine Cavallo was issued a yellow card, giving Bryn Mawr a man-up opportunity. Senior attacker Erica Matz scored with 22 seconds left to make it 14-13, which would also be the final score. The Saints got two decent looks on cage with time running out — one to Reed and another to Besser Dyson — but both players mishandled the pass in the flury of events going on in front of the net and the clock ticked down to zero.

What it Means

According to the ILWomen preseason rankings — which will be updated for the first time in-season this week — it means the No. 4 team beat the No. 5 team.

For Bryn Mawr, it means their second win of this young season and serves as proof going forward that even when you face adversity, which in this case manifested itself in being down four goals with time winding down, that it’s still possible to dig deep and pull out the win. For St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, it marks the first loss of the season heading into a game with perennial Florida power Vero Beach and shows that no lead is ever safe.

This game also showcased the importance of winning draws, particularly down the stretch. Bryn Mawr came up with draw after draw at the end of the second half, which not only gave them possession but was also key in the change in momentum.

Who Stood Out

Kate Snouffer, Junior, Midfield, Bryn MawrA good sized player with a long wingspan, Snouffer was an impact all over the field. She played solid defense, hustled to ground balls and was a consistent force on offense. Clearly a leader on the attacking end, she sees the field very well, knows when to go hard to goal and when to pass, which was perfectly exemplified by her assist on the game-tying goal.

Margaret Tucker Fogarty, Junior, Midfield, SSSA
Fogarty’s impact on the draw cannot be overstated. Her athleticism was showcased on the draw, through the midfield and on the offense, where she contributed at least two goals on the day. She has a great stick and is a strong shooter who can place the ball with power very well.

Carly Reed, Junior, Attack, SSSA
As IL’s No. 2 junior, Reed is no secret and the Bryn Mawr defense definitely paid a lot of attention to her, sliding quick and collapsing on her anytime she had the ball inside the eight. She still scored at least four goals, the most impressive of which was when she split through two defenders on the near side wing and finished up high with her shot hitting the inside of the far pipe and into the net.

Kassandra Bowling, Senior, Midfield, Bryn Mawr
You want to talk about clutch — Bowling came up huge for the Mawrtians in the biggest situations. There wasn’t a draw that didn’t somehow find its way into her stick in the final four minutes of play. She was everywhere — picking up ground balls, coming up with the draw clean on the circle and scoring two goals during the late comeback. When Bryn Mawr needed a big time play, they got it from Bowling.